Subsoil breaker



Jan. 15, 1952 'c'. v. EDWARDS 2,582,482

SUBSOIL BREAKER Filed Feb. 26, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

CUR IS V. EDWARDS BY WM ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1952 SUBSOIL BREAKER Curtis V. Edwards, Yakima, Wash., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 26, 1945, Serial No. 579,772

19 Claims.

My invention relate to a subsoil breaker for breaking up or loosening the hardpan which develops below the surface of ground which has been plowed a number of times to substantially the same depth, or for loosening any hard subsoil, and relates in particular to a device adapted to be drawn over the ground, having a plurality of spikes swingably carried on rotatable members in such position that they will be forced into the ground and then rocked so as to pry loose the subsoil.

It is an object of the invention to provide a subsoil breaker of this character which is simple and durable in construction and having, with economic use of materials, ample strength in those parts in which large strain occurs, and being of such construction that its wear receiving parts may be readily replaced.

It is an object of the invention to provide a subsoil breaker having pivotally supported spikes so related to the rotary supporting members on which they are mounted that there will be substantially no picking up and retaining of trash, such as weeds, twigs, brush, etc., by the rotating parts of the device while it is in operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a subsoil breaker wherein the rotary supports for the spikes have relatively narrow annular walls and the inner ends of the spikes are forked so that they will straddle the annular walls of the supports.

A. further object of the invention is to provide removable bearing blocks for'pivotally supporting the inner ends of the spikes, these blocks fitting into transverse openings in the rotary supports and being therefore readily removed.- and replaced as required to recondition the subsoil breaker for further service after relatively extensive wear of the spikes and of the pivot means has taken place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiective bearing means in association with the removable bearing blocks, to take the thrust transmitted from the inner ends of the spikes to the supporting means, so that this thrust force is not carried entirely by the pivot bolts or pins employed in the articulation of the supports and the spikes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary support for the spikes, which support is integrally formed with external shoulders positioned so as to serve as stops for limiting the swinging movement of the spikes on the support.

An important object of the invention is to provide stop means cooperating between the spikes and the wheel supporting the same, so arranged that the spikes will be maintained in positions or Within a range of swinging movement whereby most eificient ground loosening effect will be obtained. These stops are so placed that at no time can the spikes assume a position radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheels or rotary supports which carry the spikes. By this arrangement, the prying action which breaks loose the subsoil is initiated prior to the time the axis of the rotary supports reaches a position vertically over the spike point which penetrates the ground, and the prying action is started before the upward movement of the spike starts.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section, taken as indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, showing a portion of the rotary support or wheel and a spike pivotally carried thereon.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the supporting blocks by which the spikes are connected to the rotary supports of the invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the subsoil breaker has a rectangular frame I0 so formed that it may be readily assembled by so curing its respective parts together by bolts or screws. It has front and rear crossbars II and [2 formed simply of lengths of pipe or tubing of proper weight and diameter. These tubular crossbars are connected in spaced relation by spanners or side members I3, which are preferably cast from metal, with curved saddles or plates It at the front and rear ends thereof to receive the ends of the cross bars II and 12 which are secured by bolts l5.

In the centers of the crossbars H and l2 there are brackets It to connect to the crossbars i i and [2 a longitudinal bar comprising a pipe E7, the forward end of which projects forwardly from the crossbar H and has on its front end an attachment [8 for connecting the subsoil breaker to a pulling vehicle, such as a tractor, not shown. The brackets I6 have transversely related depressions to receive portions of the members H, 52 and I1, and bolts l 9 are passed through the associated members to secure them together. Diagonal struts 20, also comprising lengths of pipe.

3 connect the forwardly projecting portion of the center pipe H to the front crossbar i i.

To the under surfaces of the members it and H shafts 2| are connected, a central attachment plate 22 being means for connecting the shafts to the central member ll, and the under faces of the end members 13 having semicircular depressions in which the outer ends of the shafts are held. The shafts 2| are thus secured in non-rotating relation to the frame of the subsoil breaker. Relatively heavy rotatable members 24 are disposed in rotating relation on the shafts 2| by means of bearings 25 which are fitted within the ends of the rotatable supports 24 in such a manner as to be protected from entry of foreign substances.

These supporting members 24 each have a reinforced intermediate portion 2'! and radial walls or wheels 28 at the ends thereof for supporting earth penetrating and breaking spikes 25 having sharpened outer portions 39 and inner forks 3| consisting of spaced fingers or legs 32 which straddle portions of the wheels 28. The wheels 23 have the general form of flat discs with fiat, parallel side faces. Through these wheels '28 there are non-circular openings 33 in which blocks 34 are inserted. These blocks 34 are of non-circular form corresponding to the shape of the openings 33 so that they will not rotate therein. For simplicity and convenience the openings 33 and the blocks 34 are made square in outline, as shown, and, as further shown in Fig. 4, each block has at the lower part thereof a pair of oppositely projecting shoulders 36, the upper faces 31 of which are arcuate to receive the inner, rounded ends 38 of the legs 32 of the spikes 29, whereby the thrust transmitted lengthwise through each spike 29 when it is forced into the ground, may be received by the supporting block 34 and by it transmitted to the wall of the wheel to which the spike is connected.

Above the shoulders 36, the blocks 34 have openings 39 aligned with openings 40 in the inner ends of the legs 32 to receive pivot pins consisting preferably of bolts 4|. Since the upper narrow portions of the blocks 34 lie between the lower ends of the legs 32, the legs 32 act to maintain the blocks in the openings 33. Although it has been previously stated that the purpose of the shoulders 36 is to transmit the thrust from the spikes to the blocks 34 and thence to the Wheels 28, it will be understood that when there has been a degree of wear between the faces of the shoulders 36 and the rounded ends of the spikes 29, the bolts 4| will cooperate with the shoulders 36 in taking the thrust from the spikes 29. Replacement of the spikes and their cooperating wear-sustaining parts 34 and 4| may be quickly accomplished by the removal of the bolts 4|, whereupon the spikes 29 may be moved outwardly from the positions in which they are shown, and the worn blocks 34 then removed from the openings.

A further feature of the invention consists in the provision of means for limiting the swinging movement of the spikes 29 so that they are at no time stopped in a position radially of the axis of rotation of the wheels 28. As the result of this, the ground breaking or loosening effect of the spikes 29 starts before the axis of rotation of the supporting wheel 28 passes over the points of the spikes which are substantially fully penetrating the ground, therefore, before the rotation of the wheels starts to lift the penetrating spikes from the ground.

On the side faces of the wheels 28 near the peripheries thereof, there are integral lugs 43 and 44 to engage the legs 32 of the spikes 29 and thereby limit the swinging movement thereof on the pivots provided by the blocks 34. As shown at :1: in Fig. 2, the lugs or stops 43 are placed so as to determine the positions of the spikes 29 as they move downward to engage the ground, and as shown at y the lugs 64 are positioned so that they will engage the spikes 29 while they are in the ground and before the axis of rotation a of the wheels 28 reaches a position directly above the point of the spike which is penetrating the ground, or prior to the time upward movement of the spikes starts, whereby the rocking of the spikes on a lateral axis parallel to the axis a, to break or loosen the subsoil, will be started prior to and will be continued during the upward movement of the spikes from their positions of full penetration into the ground.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall with a bearing opening therein; a bearing member removably disposed in said bearing opening and removable therefrom in a direction laterally of said radially projecting wall; and a spike swingably connected to said bearing memher, said spike having a pair of legs extending on opposite sides of said wall and spaced so as to snugly embrace said wall and said bearing member when in said bearing opening for retaining said bearing member against lateral movement relative to said wall.

2. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall; and a spike swingably connected to said wall by hinge means, said spike having a pair of legs extending on opposite sides of said wall and having the inner ends thereof prepared for pivotal connection to said wall, said spike and said wall having cooperating means for limiting the swinging movement of said spike relatively to said wall, so that the point of said spike will always lie, relative to the direction of rotation of said member, in advance of a line extending radially from the center of rotation of said rotatable member through the center of said hinge means.

3. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall; and a spike having its inner end connected to said rotatable member by hinge means and its outer end projecting so that it may penetrate the ground as said rotatable member rotates, means on said part and engageable by said spike for limiting the swinging movement of said spike relatively to said rotatable member so that the 5. point of said spike will always lie, relative to the direction of rotation of said member, in advance of a line extending radially from the center of rotation of said rotatable member through the center of said hinge means.

4. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on avtransverse axis, said member having a radially projectingwall; a spike swingably connected to said wall by hinge means, said spike having a pair of legsextending on opposite sides of said wall and having the inner ends thereof prepared for pivotal connection to said wall; and lugs formed on the sides of said wall for limiting the swinging movement of said spike relatively to said wall, so that the point of said spike will always lie, relative to the direction of rotation of said member, in advance of a line extending radially from the center of rotation of said rotatable member and through the center of said hinge means.

5. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall, and there being a transverse opening through said wall from face to face thereof; a block insertable into said opening; and a spike having an earth penetrating outer end and legs at its inner end to straddle said Wall, the inner portions of said legs being pivotally. connected to said block and preventing movement of said block out of said opening.

6. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall, and there being a transverse opening through said wall from face to face thereof; a block insertable into said opening; and a spike having an earth penetrating outer end and legs at its inner end to straddle said wall, the inner portions of said legs being pivotally connected to said block and preventing movement of said block out of said opening, there being means for limiting the swinging movement of said spike relatively to said rotatable member.

7. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall, and there being a transverse opening through said wall from face to face thereof; a block insertable into said opening; and a spike having an earth penetrating outer end and legs at its inner end to straddle said wall, the inner portions of said legs being pivotally connected to said block and preventing movement of said block out of said opening, there being means for limiting the swinging movement of said spike relatively to said rotatable member, so that at no time will said spike occupy a position coinciding with a line extending radially from the center of rotation of said rotatable member.

8. For use in a subsoil breaker of the charac ter described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall, and there being a transverse opening through said wall from face to face thereof; a block insertable into said opening having outwardly faced shoulders thereon; and a spike having an earth penetrating outer end and legs at its inner end to straddle said wall, the inner portions of said legs being pivotally connected to said block and preventing movement of said block out of said opening, and the inner ends of said legs engaging said shoulders so that thrusts from said spike will be transmitted through said shoulders to said block.

9. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall, and there being a transverse opening through said wall from face to face thereof: a block insertable into said opening; a spike having an earth penetrating outer end and legs at its inner end to straddle said wall, the inner portions of said legs being pivotally connected to said block and preventing movement of said block out of said opening; and means cooperating be tween said rotatable member and said spike to limit the swinging movement of said spike relatively to said rotatable member, said means having a shoulder to engage said spike prior to the start of the movement of said rotatable member to lift said spike from the ground, whereby a prying movement of said spike will be initiated prior to the upward movement of said spike from its position penetrating the ground.

10. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement cornprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis; a spike having its inner end connected to said rotatable member and its outer end projeot ing so that it may penetrate the ground as said rotatable member rotates; and means cooperating between said rotatable member and said spike to limit the swinging movement of said spike relatively to said rotatable member, said means comprising a pair of spaced apart shoulders on said rotatable member disposed on opposite sides of said spike, one shoulder being adapted to hold said spike with its point in advance of a radial line extending from the axis of rotation of said member to the inner end of said spike, the other shoulder being adapted to engage said spike prior to the start of the movement of said rotatable member to lift said spike from the ground, whereby a prying movement of said spike will be initiated prior to the upward movement of said spike from its position penetrating the ground.

11. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall, and there being a transverse opening through said Wall from face to face thereof; a block insertable into said opening; a spike having an earth penetrating outer end and an apertured inner end; means pivotally connecting said inner end to said block; and means on said rotatable member engaging said block for holding said block in said transverse opening.

12. For use in a subsoil breaker of the character described, including a frame element adapted to be connected to a motivating device whereby the subsoil breaker may be caused to move over the surface of the ground: the improvement comprising a rotatable member connected to said frame element so as to rotate on a transverse axis, said member having a radially projecting wall, and there being a transverse opening through said wall from face to face thereof; a block insertable into said opening; a spike having an earth penetrating outer end and an apertured inner end; means pivotally connecting said inner end to said block; and cooperating abutment means on said block and spike whereby thrusts from said spike will be transmitted directly to said block.

13. In an implement of the class described, a movable part rotatable about an axis, said part having a transverse opening spaced from said axis, a bearing block, means on said rotatable member engaging said block for holding said block in said opening,- an earth engaging spike, means for pivotally connecting said spike to said block, and cooperating abutment means on said block and spike whereby thrusts from said spike will be transmitted directly to said block.

14. In an implement of the class described, a movable part rotatable about an axis, said part having a transverse opening spaced from said axis, a bearing block, means for holding said block in said opening, an earth engaging spike, means for pivotally connecting said spike to said block, and cooperating abutment means on said block and spike whereby thrusts from said spike will be transmitted directly to said block, said block holding means comprising means acting between said spike and said rotatable part.

15. In an implement of the class described, a movable part rotatable about an axis, said part having a transverse opening spaced from said axis, a bearing block, an earth engaging spike having a bifurcated section the legs of which closely embrace the rotatable part adjacent said transverse opening and the bearing block in said opening, and means for pivotally connecting said bifurcated section to said block, the inner faces of said legs engaging said part and said bearing block for holding the latter in position;

16. An earth working tool having a plurality of parallel faced discs adapted to rotate clockwise as it is moved over the earth, a plurality of teeth pivotally attached to each disc, each of said teeth being formed with a blade adapted to dig into the earth and having a bifurcated portion adapted to straddle the disc, said teeth being pivotally attached to the disc with pivots extending through both extensions forming the bifurcated portion, the free ends of the bifurcated portion of each tooth being rounded concentric with the pivot attaching the tooth to the disc, and a boss on each face of the disc concentric with the pivot and adapted to bear against the rounded end of the tooth in the pivotal movement of the tooth.

17. An earth working ,tool having a plurality of parallel faced discs adapted to rotate as it is moved over the earth, a plurality of teeth pivotally attached to each disc, each of said teeth being formed with a blade adapted to dig into the earth and having a bifurcated portion adapted to straddle the disc, said teeth being pivotally attached to the disc with pivots extending through both extensions forming the bifurcated portion, the free ends of the bifurcated portion of each tooth being rounded concentric with the pivot attaching the tooth to the disc, and a boss on each face of the disc concentric with the pivot and adapted to bear against the rounded end of the tooth in the pivotal movement of the tooth.

18. An agricultural implement comprising a rotatable member, an earth working tool pivotally attached to said member so as to be movable relative thereto about a pivot axis and having an outer end adapted to dig into the earth and an inner end rounded so as to be concentric with respect to said pivot axis, and a part on said rotatable member concentric with said pivot axis and adapted to bear against the rounded portion of said tool in the pivotal movement of the tool about said axis.

19. An agricultural implement comprising a rotatable member, an earth working tool having an outer end adapted to dig into the earth and an inner end disposed alongside said rotatable member, pivot means connecting the inner end of said tool with said rotatable member so as to be movable relative thereto about a pivot axis, the inner end of said tool being rounded so as to be concentric with respect to said pivot axis, and an auxiliary bearing member having a toolreceiving socket portion concentric with respect to said pivot axis and receiving the rounded end of said tool so as to serve as a bearing for the rounded end of the tool.

CURTIS V. EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 634,825 Mallon Oct. 10, 1899 1,227,089 Tanczer May 22, 1917 2,040,068 Ziegler May 5, 1936 2,325,997 Kelly et al Aug. 3, 1943 

